PrepTest 117

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument/Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed/Flawed

Question Type:
Methods of Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
R: Living under a government that doesn't represent you is undemocratic and kids and parents don't have the same interests so kids should be allowed to vote.

S: Sure there are some places where kids and parents don't have the same interests but kids view things on too short a timeline and too simplistically so we shouldn't let them vote.

Answer Anticipation:
For this first question we can completely skip over what Smith says—we need to describe Rossi's argument. She starts off with a general principle ("It is undemocratic for . . . ") and then she moves on to apply it to a specific case before making a recommendation in the conclusion. This is a common argument structure! Let's find an answer describing it.

Answer Explanation:
The opening statement is a general principle and Rossi appeals to it in making a specific recommendation. This answer is therefore the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
One common method of reasoning is establishing a principle and then applying it to a specific case. We can see it show up in Methods of Reasoning questions but it also shows up in flaw—based questions. When that happens the flaw is generally that the argument fails to establish that the situation meets the sufficient condition/criteria for the principle to apply.

Incorrect. Rossi is the first speaker, so there's little opportunity to question Smith's good faith. Her argument doesn't discuss an opponent at all.

Incorrect. Rossi raises the proposal in her conclusion, but she doesn't discuss the consequences of it. That would be a discussion of how elections would change with kids voting.

Incorrect. What this answer is saying is that the argument describes a policy before suggesting its adoption instead of arguing why it's a good idea. But Rossi gives a rationale for a policy—it's undemocratic to deny kids the right to vote. That's a reason to enfranchise them.

Incorrect. The only term Rossi uses twice is "interests," and there's no indication she switched the meaning. In both cases, she's using it to discuss the issues they care about that can be affected by the government.